Rebekah Mason Denies Affair With Governor Bentley
Rebekah Mason, Senior Political Advisor for Governor Robert Bentley, is on the defense among allegations of an inappropriate relationship with Gov. Bentley. The allegations come just a day after Spencer Collier was fired from his position as head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), according to the New York Times.
Spencer Collier states he found out about his termination via social media and that he was accused of misusing funds which he denies. Collier has fired back at Gov. Bentley and it appears he has some dirt to spread around. In August 2014, Sgt. Stan Stabler, personal security for the governor, intercepted a text message from Rebekah Mason to Bentley that was sexual in nature. Sgt. Stabler reported the inappropriate message to his supervisor, Chief Wendell Ray Lewis, who took the information to Collier. That same week, a family member turned in an audio recording of Mason and Bentley engaging in a sexual conversation.
“I told Governor Bentley that I loved him like a father and there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him except lie to a Grand Jury. I made Governor Bentley aware of the recording that I heard. I told Governor Bentley there was no need to try and explain it for anything other than it was. It was very obvious that it was sexual in nature. Governor Bentley simply hung his head and asked for advice on how to get out of it.”
Rebekah Mason: '[Collier's] comments were clear, demonstrated gender bias'https://t.co/l43TYF3Tbt pic.twitter.com/vDMdAwEk2A
— WSFA 12 News (@wsfa12news) March 23, 2016
Collier contends that Rebekah Mason has had an uncanny power over the governor like nothing he’s ever seen in his years of public service.
“I made Governor Bentley aware that the attorney general’s office had requested an affidavit and that both myself and special agent Wilson would be submitting an affidavit as it was part of our job and our obligation as law enforcement officers. Government Bentley instructed me to tell Matt Hart with the attorney general’s office that ALEA’s investigation was still ongoing, not to do the affidavit. That was untrue.”
@GovernorBentley photographed with his alleged "mistress" Rebekah Mason at a hotel in DC in February. @FOX10News pic.twitter.com/CLIdT2btcF
— Kati Weis (@KatiWeis) March 23, 2016
Rebekah Mason has issued a statement about Collier’s allegations, defending her honor and turning the accusations on being sexist, according to WIAT.
“There is no way that man [Collier] would have said what he did today about another man. He only said what he said about my professional abilities because I am a woman. His comments were clear, demonstrated gender bias. Since 2010, I have proudly served as Governor Robert Bentley’s Campaign Press Secretary, Communications Director, Advisor, Campaign Communications Director and now Senior Political Advisor. It is an honor to serve our Governor and the people of this state. As a wife and working mother, I commute four hours a day to serve on a team committed to helping our people. Unfortunately, there are still some people who are set on hindering the ability of women to work in the political arena. I am proud of what I have accomplished in my professional career. And I’m grateful for the opportunity God has given me to serve our state.”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206832532318869&set=a.1596705844552.2081463.1443152928&type=3
Governor Bentley said the allegations were made two years ago and that he has apologized for his inappropriate behavior. When asked if he loves Mason, he responded he “loves everybody on his staff.” He denies a physical affair with Rebekah Mason but Dianne Bentley, his wife of 50 years, abruptly filed for divorce in August 2014, which leads to speculation about the true nature of Gov. Bentley’s relationship with Rebekah Mason.
UPDATE: Alabama moves forward to impeach Governor Bentley, read about it and listen to the sex tape audio.
[Image via Brynn Anderson/AP]
